"As everyone knows, Xianhai is the richest source of Extreme Glaze Silver. The reason our Xian Family invited you here today is that a natural array has been discovered in Xianhai, clearly marking a Secret Domain. This natural array will loosen in the coming days, and when it does, we can join forces to break through..."
Winston Xian's words stirred a quiet buzz among the guests. Even Joe Di couldn't help but admire the Xian Family's generosity.
For such a secret domain to be discovered, yet the Xian Family chooses not to keep it to themselves but instead shares the news and invites everyone to prosper together. If it isn't generosity, then perhaps there's something problematic about this domain.
Logically speaking, since the domain hasn't been opened yet, even the Xian Family wouldn't know if there are issues within.
Winston Xian continued, "Once the domain is open, it will be accessible to all. The first group to enter, naturally, will be those present here today."
Many cultivators cupped their fists in gratitude. The Xian Family's approach left everyone quite satisfied.
Winston Xian courteously returned the gesture. Once the crowd quieted again, he continued, "With the domain opening in a few days, our Xian Family will take this opportunity to hold an engagement ceremony for my daughter, Moira Xian. You are all witnesses to this occasion."
After Winston Xian finished speaking, he sat down. At that moment, celestial music began to play, and a young woman entered accompanied by a young man. Behind them, several graceful maidservants followed.
Joe Di saw the young woman and secretly thought to himself, 'She's really unattractive.'
Thick lips, narrow eyes, and a very plump figure. Not only that, her complexion was dull and lifeless, though her hair was jet black, clearly inherited from her father, Winston Xian. Her cultivation was decent—late Transformation Realm—much stronger than Quinn Fang.
The young man beside the woman, in contrast, was quite handsome—apart from slightly thin lips, he was exceptional in every way. His cultivation far surpassed Moira Xian's, having reached late Prime Realm.
Quinn Fang widened his eyes. He had heard that Moira Xian was supposed to be beautiful.
The pair walked over to Winston Xian, bowed respectfully, and called out 'Father' in unison, then stood to his left and right.
Winston Xian laughed heartily and said, "All the guests here today are powerful figures. Moira, Leon Xiao, hurry and pay your respects to the elders present."
"Yes." Moira Xian and the cultivator named Leon Xiao bowed sincerely to the assembled cultivators. However, Moira Xian's voice was rough and hoarse. With just a few words, everyone could hear that there was nothing gentle about her tone.
The cultivators present rose one after another to offer congratulations. The most prominent, a Unity Realm cultivator seated at the head, said loudly, "Congratulations to Moira on her engagement to her beloved. I, Morris Zhong, have little of real value, but please accept these humble gifts as a token of my respect."
With that, the cultivator produced a ring and a gift list, presenting them forward.
Moira Xian didn't need to act; a maidservant stepped forward and received the items on a jade tray. Moira and Leon Xiao quickly stepped up to bow and thank him.
The maidservant announced in a clear voice, "Morris Zhong from Supreme Ease Island presents one superior-grade divine spirit vein, a pair of superior-grade artifacts—Feathered Twin Rings, and one Dingxuan Dao Fruit..."
Many cultivators unfamiliar with the customs gasped at the list of gifts...
Joe Di thought to himself, so that's where the problem lies. There are hundreds of people here—if everyone gives gifts like this, the Xian Family will make a fortune. Still, Joe Di knew that not everyone would be so extravagant.
Joe Di didn't mind this approach. The Xian Family collects gifts openly, at least without forcing anyone to give more than they wish. As for Morris Zhong from Supreme Ease Island, Joe Di wondered if he was from the Supreme Ease Realm.
"Big brother, I don't have anything to give," Quinn Fang said anxiously, hearing the high value of the gifts being presented.
"Don't worry, I have something to give," Joe Di reassured him with a pat.
With Morris Zhong leading the way, the gifts that followed were all impressive—no one dared present anything inferior. After giving gifts, the presenters would have their names announced. Most who gave gifts received a jade token in return. Although Winston Xian hadn't explained, Joe Di guessed these tokens were entry passes to the secret domain.
Joe Di wasn't the only one who figured it out—other cultivators did too. Those who didn't receive a token had given less valuable gifts, or at least relatively less.
Those who gave more received two or even more jade tokens. Clearly, the Xian Family was selling entry tokens to the secret domain through the gift exchange.
It seemed the Xian Family still cared about appearances. While everyone knew what was happening, they simply didn't say it outright. If you wanted to enter the secret domain, you had to give enough; otherwise, you were out of luck.
Because of this, the gifts kept getting more extravagant. Many realized that if they waited until after leaving to get a token, the price would be much higher.
It was now Cynthia Xing's turn to present her gift. Joe Di watched her closely, curious to see what she would offer.
Cynthia Xing presented a ring and a gift list, but said nothing at all.
The maidservant swept her divine sense over the ring and list, her face showing astonishment before announcing, "Cynthia Xing from Lotus Lake presents a Special Grade Origin Prime Pill to congratulate the newlyweds..."
Upon hearing 'Special Grade Origin Prime Pill,' Joe Di couldn't help but gasp. He wasn't alone—the entire hall of cultivators was stunned.
Someone actually presented an Origin Prime Pill, and a special grade at that. Even the wealthy wouldn't give such a gift so casually.
The Origin Prime Pill, from a certain perspective, is something you simply can't buy.
Joe Di grew even more cautious. He had planned to give a pill as a gift himself, and though he had many Origin Prime Pills, he hadn't intended to present one. Yet Cynthia Xing had done just that.
For Cynthia Xing to give away an Origin Prime Pill, there were only two possibilities: either she had robbed a top-tier Prime Dao Pill Saint, or she herself was a Prime Dao Pill Saint. Joe Di thought it more likely she was a Prime Dao Pill Saint—only someone who could refine such pills at will would give them so freely.
Cynthia Xing was definitely young, yet she was a Genesis Pill Saint and dared reveal it here. Just how much confidence did this woman have?
Winston Xian was the first to react, quickly cupping his fists and saying, "Thank you, Daoist Xing, for your generous gift. Moira, hurry and offer your thanks."
Joe Di understood exactly what Winston Xian meant by this gesture. If the Xian Family hadn't paid much attention to Cynthia Xing before, after she presented that Origin Prime Pill, they now regarded her as a key ally.
It wasn't just Winston Xian—even the others began greeting Cynthia Xing. Most guessed she was a top-tier Pill Saint, a Genesis Pill Saint. Such figures were so rare, many had never even heard of one before.
The gift-giving continued in the hall, and after the Origin Prime Pill was presented, the subsequent gifts became even more lavish.
Soon, the maidservant reached Joe Di's side. Instead of a ring, Joe Di placed an exquisite flying ship on her jade tray.
After glancing at the gift list, the maidservant announced loudly, "Joe Di and Quinn Fang, rogue cultivators, present a semi-supreme artifact—Skycar..."
Swish! This time, all eyes turned to Joe Di.
Goodness! The commotion caused by the Origin Prime Pill hadn't yet died down, and now someone was presenting a semi-supreme artifact Skycar.
Why did Cason Xian regard Joe Di so highly? Because Joe Di possessed a supreme flying artifact. In truth, even a superior-grade flying artifact was extremely rare.
The value of a superior-grade flying artifact could exceed that of ten superior-grade artifacts. Now, Joe Di had given away a semi-supreme Skycar. In some ways, its value might even surpass the Origin Prime Pill—though, of course, that depends on who needs it.